Gopher Tortoises are reptiles located in North America, in the United States of America. The states they are located in are Florida, near the Mississippi River, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. Gopher Tortoises, unlike sea turtles, prefer dry, sandy habitats, like coastal dunes and dry prairies. They also like urban areas and pastures.
The Gopher Tortoise’s scientific name is gopherus polyphemus. It is a type of tortoise related to the Testudinidae family. This tortoise is very helpful, especially when it digs burrows and provides shelter for 360 other species. Its kingdom is Animalia. They can live up to 40 to 60 years in the wild, and up to 90 years in captivity. A way to differentiate a Gopher Tortoise from a different type of tortoise is by looking at their shell. They can be tan, brown, or gray. You can also recognize their habitat.
Gopher Tortoises are herbivores, but some might show an interest in meat. They usually eat grasses, berries, and mushrooms. Gopher Tortoises rarely drink water. They usually get their hydration from plants. They have been known to travel more than 160 feet from their home to find their food.
In the United States, there are about 785,000 Gopher Tortoises. The population of them has declined by 80 percent since 1923. That is a lot! There have been attempts to relocate and repopulate Gopher Tortoises, such as being a volunteer to relocate them. And the Mortality Data Collection Program, where they find departed or hurt Gopher Tortoises, can help also.
Gopher Tortoises are endangered because of habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation. This is probably because of new homes being built in their habitat. A way to stop this is to not build around their area. You could also move them to a different place where their habitat is.
The gopher tortoise has been federally listed as threatened since 1987. It is listed under the Endangered Species Act. It has some sort of state protection in most states.
The gopher tortoise is a moderate-sized turtle. It is a terrestrial tortoise, ranging to about 9-11 inches long when fully grown. There are some instances where they can grow up to 15 inches. Hatchlings and juveniles' colors are yellow-orange and brown.